Failed emission inspection, unable to connect

[WallyWest]

Took my 2002 in for PA inspection. It was inspected last year with no problem, but this time they called me and said their emission computer can't connect to my 4Runner.

Eventually they figured out that if someone held the connector on just so it would work. So they had to have two guys doing it, one to run the test and one to sit there pushing on the connector.

They used the same equipment on other cars and had no issues, so their position is that it's the connector in my 4Runner that's flaky. Naturally they charged me extra labor due to that.

A standard scan tool will connect fine, they confirmed that. I use one of those bluetooth adapters to connect to my phone and have had no issues. They theorized that the emissions equipment uses a pin that the standard OBDII tool doesn't. Don't know if that's true or not.

Anyone else run into this? Can you replace just the connector? If this gets worse to the point where it won't work at all I won't be able to get it inspected.

 

[Victor_inox]

What you described is bad connector.Grab connector off junkyard vehicle, any vehicle made after 1996 will do. solder it in place and run it again.

 

[FMFwarrior]

Extra labor for an inspection?!?!

 

[rideexileex]

Or try the port in the engine bay - right side of the intake manifold, labeled diagnostics

 

[kiana]

What you described is bad connector.Grab connector off junkyard vehicle, any vehicle made after 1996 will do. solder it in place and run it again.

If you do this will you have to solder every wire running behind the connector?

 

[Victor_inox]

If you do this will you have to solder every wire running behind the connector?

I would. Not sure if you have to.

 

[Victor_inox]

Or try the port in the engine bay - right side of the intake manifold, labeled diagnostics

Is there one? really?

 

[kolelt]

I would. Not sure if you have to.

Shouldn't have to. You shoul be able to unlock the connector and remove each pin.

I though the engine plug doesn't actually have a plug ? It flashes the check engine light inside and you count manually ?

 

[kiana]

Is there one? really?

There is one in the engine bay and it is labeled diagnostics but I don't think any state emissions will use that, I'm pretty sure they'll just use the OBD port. That diagnostics port in the engine bay is used for car reset functions. For instance when I had to calibrate my sensors for traction control there was a procedure to use that diagnostic port. I wonder what all that thing is capable of, anybody have a thread that explains all the cool things you can do with it?

 

[WallyWest]

There is one in the engine bay and it is labeled diagnostics but I don't think any state emissions will use that, I'm pretty sure they'll just use the OBD port. That diagnostics port in the engine bay is used for car reset functions. For instance when I had to calibrate my sensors for traction control there was a procedure to use that diagnostic port. I wonder what all that thing is capable of, anybody have a thread that explains all the cool things you can do with it?

Interesting.

Is it the same type of connector? I mean, would it even work for an emissions test?

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Yeah OK Whatever. It's your OBDII connector that probably gets plugged into a couple times vs their adapter that has probably been used and possibly abused hundreds if not thousands of times. I would immediately take it to several auto parts stores and get them to scan it and see if it reads. Extra pin my ass. I hate reading stuff like this.

 

[PWD4R]

Extra labor for an inspection?!?!

My thoughts exactly. That's a state fee and shouldn't be subject to labor costs.


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[CowboyBob]

You can get a new connector from here for $3.95

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9911

 

[kolelt]

Interesting.

Is it the same type of connector? I mean, would it even work for an emissions test?

No, they do t use the engine port. It's not even obd

 

[kiana]

Interesting.

Is it the same type of connector? I mean, would it even work for an emissions test?

Yeah although it KINDA does look like an OBD port I don't think it would have anything to do with emissions. It's more just for really specific tasks to do with the toyota's ECU's.